At least 20 California condors have died of avian flu in latest weeks, and wildlife officers are making ready for the virus’ unfold among the many critically endangered birds. The extremely contagious H5N1 fowl flu that’s killing North America’s largest fowl is similar pressure that compelled farmers to cull tens of millions of chickens over the past yr.
It is a serious blow to the inhabitants of California condors (Gymnogyps californianus), which have been pushed to the sting of extinction within the Eighties. Intensive breeding and habitat conservation efforts have since bolstered their numbers to round 500 birds, round 300 of which reside within the wild. Clusters of the large vultures can now be discovered from western Canada right down to northern Mexico.
In latest weeks, the US Fish and Wildlife Service had confirmed no less than 20 condor deaths in a flock positioned round Arizona and Utah. So far, 10 of the condors in that flock have examined constructive for avian flu and the ten remaining birds are presently present process examination. The deaths signify a 7 per cent lack of the species’ wild inhabitants.
As of 17 April, the US Fish and Wildlife Service was rehabilitating 4 condors from the flock within the south-west US. They have been “receiving supportive care and have shown improvement”, based on an announcement.
“My worry is that avian flu could spread throughout the regional condor groups as the disease becomes more prevalent in bird populations in general,” says Ileene Anderson on the Center for Biological Diversity in Arizona. “Since there is no known vaccine or proven treatment, at a minimum it could set back California condor recovery for years and at the worst it could decimate the population.”
Avian flu has not been detected in neighbouring flocks in California or Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. Officials say they’re monitoring close by condors and making ready within the occasion that it spreads, particularly as migratory birds that would ferry the virus fly north for spring migration.
Though there have been uncommon instances of avian flu sickness and deaths in people, public well being officers say that transmission is uncommon and advise avoiding shut contact with sick or lifeless wildlife.
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Source: www.newscientist.com